Pakistan

The separation in 1947 of British India into the Muslim state of Pakistan (with two sections West and East) and largely Hindu India was never satisfactorily resolved.
A third war between these countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan seceding and becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. A dispute over the state of Kashmir is ongoing. In response to Indian nuclear weapons testing, Pakistan conducted its own tests in 1998.
(Source: CIA - The World Factbook)

border countries: Afghanistan, China, India, Iran

Official Name:
Islami Jamhooriya-e-Pakistan
short form: Pakistan
int'l long form: Islamic Republic of Pakistan

ISO Country Code: pk

Time:
Local Time = UTC +5h

Country Calling Code: +92

Capital City: Islamabad (pop. 1 million) and adjacent Rawalpindi (1 400 000) comprise the national capital area with a combined population of 3.7 million.

Other Cities:
Karachi (9 million), Lahore (5 million), Faisalabad (2 million) and Hyderabad (1 million)

Government:
Type: Parliamentary democracy.
Independence: 14 August 1947.

Geography:
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea between India on the east and Iran and Afghanistan on the west and China in the north.
Area: 804 000 sq. km. (311 000 sq. mi.)
Terrain: Flat Indus plain in east; mountains in north and northwest; Balochistan plateau in west.

Climate: Mostly hot, dry desert; temperate in northwest; arctic in north.

People:
Nationality: Noun and adjective--Pakistan(i).
Population: 151 000 000.
Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pathan (Pushtun), Baloch, Muhajir (i.e., Urdu-speaking immigrants from India and their descendants), Saraiki, Hazara.
Religions: Muslim 97%; small minorities of Christians, Hindus, and others.
Languages: Urdu (national and official), English, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pushtu, Balochi, Hindko, Brahui, Saraiki (Punjabi variant).
Literacy: 45.7%; male 59.8%; female 30.6%.

Natural resources: Extensive natural gas reserves, limited petroleum, poor quality coal, iron ore, copper, salt, limestone.

Agriculture products:
Cotton, wheat, rice, sugarcane, fruits, vegetables; milk, beef, mutton, eggs.

Industries: Textiles and apparel, food processing, pharmaceuticals, construction materials, paper products, fertilizer.

Currency: Pakistani Rupee (PKR)

Pakistan in Figures
Pakistan key statistical data.